Tell me about a time you had to adapt to a different culture.
"I've worked with some pretty diverse clients in my day. Recently worked with a client who was Muslim and wore a burka. I'd grown accustomed to making eye contact and reading body language to anticipate any issues or needs my clients have. Yet, in this case, there was no way to read this person's facial cues. So I just made a habit of checking in with every point I tried to address and lead by asking for vocal confirmations regarding their needs and interests. It worked just fine and required fine tuning along the way. There's always fine tuning and something new to learn."
This question tests your cultural competence as well as your interpersonal skills. This question is less about the example you provide, and more about how you answer. Conveying cultural competence requires interest, openness, and curiosity. A person who doesn't feel comfortable when immersed in a culturally diverse environment might have difficulty navigating this question. They might stammer, and struggle to find the right words. Whereas, a person who has experience with, and no difficulty being immersed in a culturally rich environment working with people from all walks of life, will have no trouble navigating this question with ease.
